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A new dementia unit at the Riverview Resthome in Maungaturoto is just $300,000 away from raising the required $3.6 million.
Maungaturoto Community Charitable Trust chair Craig Fergus says the trust has decided to “take a punt” and begin construction.
“Framing is on site and will start going up before the end of the month,” he says.
Craig says once the walls are up, the village will be eligible to apply for grants from the Northern
District Health Board, which will hopefully help it secure the remaining required funds.
Four hundred tickets have already been sold for the Dahlias for Dementia garden and house tour, which is raising funds for the unit.
Craig says four years ago, the plan was to have a capacity for eight beds, but this has been increased to 14 after a feasibility study showed there was more demand.
“In Northland, there are no secure dementia beds currently available and patients have had to move to Auckland. That can be taxing for family members or spouses,” he says.
Craig says the trust has been very fortunate receiving fundraising help from all parts of the community.
Alzheimers New Zealand reports that 70,000 Kiwis are currently living with dementia and this number will rise to 170,000 by 2050.
